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Lizzo defends wearing 'inappropriate' thong outfit to basketball game
10 December 2019, 12:03
Lizzo says haters can "kiss it" after receiving backlash for wearing a thong to a Lakers basketball game on Sunday.
Lizzo has responded to internet fashion critics after an outfit she wore to a basketball game ignited a full-blown Twitter war.
READ MORE: Ariana Grande defends Lizzo after her fans get #LizzoIsOverParty trending on Twitter
It all started when Lizzo rocked up to the Los Angeles Lakers v Minnesota Timberwolves game on Sunday (8 Dec) with her entourage. The 'Good As Hell' singer wore an understated t-shirt dress, fishnet tights and killer patent boots. From the front, the outfit was just like any other someone might wear to the basketball game, but from the back? Oh, it was a different story. Lizzo's dress had a large hole cut out the back that revealed her thong.
During halftime, the Laker girls danced to Lizzo's song 'Juice' and, naturally, she twerked along to her own bop. But, she revealed a lot of herself in the process as it was blown up on-screen in the stadium.
Lizzo continued to show off her booty on her Instagram Story, sharing a video of herself from behind. "This is how a bad bitch goes to the Lakers game," she said. Little did she know, her outfit had started a heated internet debate.
Many said her outfit was inappropriate as there were children at the game.
Innocent families at the game when Lizzo showed up with her cheeks out: pic.twitter.com/xkytLRkJrl
— the grinch (@joytmvundura) December 9, 2019
Dunno how we got to the point where we can't criticize Lizzo or her songs cos she's fat.
— Adunni Adaora Achebe (@Adunni_Achebe) December 10, 2019
Everything is fat shaming with you people.
It's exhausting.
Her outfit was tacky and trashy.
I'd probably say the same thing if a slimmer artiste wore it idc.
Regardless of Lizzo’s weight, being in a public place where there’s families and kids with your WHOLE ass out is indecent and y’all know this. You’re just being dense for the sake of being dense
— Perk/Roddy Ricch Stan Account (@gregperkinss) December 9, 2019
Absolutely nobody:
— Faithful Black Men Association (@OfficialFBMA) December 9, 2019
Lizzo:
Unproblematic Faithful Black Kings just trying to enjoy a Lakers game with their beautiful families: pic.twitter.com/8UwF69sXf1
can we all get something straight:
— 𝖙𝖆𝖇𝖇𝖞 (@verypalehipster) December 9, 2019
the lizzo thing is not about men vs. women it’s not about sexualizing an ass it’s not about the children who saw her ass
if your best friend of any size / any gender came over in a thong and sat on your couch, would you be okay with that
Others thought that it was hypocritical considering how slimmer people are never held to the same dress code standards and how scantily-clad the Lakers cheerleaders are.
“Won’t someone think of the children???”
— Clarkisha Kent (@IWriteAllDay_) December 9, 2019
First of all, y’all be letting television with NO parental locks raise your nigga spawn & I’m POSITIVE they’ve seen some “After Dark” shit, but *sure*, Lizzo’s ass cheeks will be what brings about the moral decay of American society 😂 pic.twitter.com/KTcDAtKfbm
I’m cracking up at all the “Lizzo was at a basketball game, children were there” y’all love protecting children when it’s convenient. Kids be around cigarette smoke, weed smoke, vulgar language, crackhead uncles, etc. But a fat bitch with her ass showing will harm them. Okay then pic.twitter.com/bHUI7lzOV2
— Yandy Luther King-Smith III (@NieceJanel) December 9, 2019
If you're outraged at #Lizzo performing scantily clad in front of children at an NBA game, how about some outrage on behalf of the traumatized children separated from their parents and placed in cages at the US-Mexico border?
— Särah Nour (@SaCha1689) December 10, 2019
The children who saw Lizzo's ass will be just fine.
"Think of the children" is never used to actually think of the children.
— Pup Amp (@PupAmp) December 9, 2019
Instead, it's used as a scapegoat to censor and slut shame:
-Our bodies
-Sexual health
-Adult entertainment
-Unpopular opinions
-Anything deemed "different"
-and Lizzo
I won't stand for it!
I know people been draggin Lizzo for what she was wearing at the game but if yall gonna drag her for not being "family-friendly" then check the league for these cheerleading outfits b/c these women cheeks are out & definitely not fam-friendly #Lizzo pic.twitter.com/DqPsjhJbvd
— Thick Madame (@LadyJMillzz) December 10, 2019
And Lizzo's fans were just here for her living her best life.
Lizzo unapologetically existing as a fat black woman has so many of you upset.
— Stephy (@StephanieYeboah) December 9, 2019
The fact that she's upsetting the established order and refuses to get inside this preconceived box so many of you have tried to place her in, is hilarious.
The fatphobia is jumping out!
when are y’all gonna learn that lizzo DOESNT GIVE A FUCK AND SHES GOING TO DO AND WEAR WHATEVER TF SHE WANTS
— zel (@denzeldion) December 9, 2019
I hope Lizzo does everything with her ass out at this point.
— George M Johnson (@IamGMJohnson) December 9, 2019
At the very least it will make some question their phobias around fatness and why she triggers so many things a lot of y’all never comment about on “acceptable” bodies.
the level at which lizzo doesn't give a shit is honestly inspiring pic.twitter.com/sdyfRsNWxY
— 🎄 (@mattwhitlockPM) December 9, 2019
Not gonna lie, I love seing big girls winning. I used to be 300lbs. and how the world treated me (verses my current weight) was pretty traumatizing. I'm pretty conservative now cuz of it but I love seeing unapologetic big bodies. Makes me feel like I'm sexy too. #Lizzo @lizzo
— TheHomeGirlMonie (@HomegirlMonie) December 10, 2019
Despite the criticism, Lizzo remained as unbothered as could be. She hopped on Instagram Live to address the backlash and basically told the haters to kiss her ass. "Who I am and the essence of me and the things I choose to do as a grown ass woman can inspire you to do the same," she explained.
READ MORE: Lizzo's tiny Valentino purse is the real winner at the AMAs
"You don't have to be like me, you need to be like you and never ever let somebody stop you, or shame you from being yourself. This is who I've always been. Now everyone's looking at it… and your criticism can just remain your criticism. Your criticism has no effect on me, negative criticism has no stake in my life, no control over my life, over my emotions. I'm the happiest I've ever been I'm surrounded by love and I just want to spread that love – and also spread these cheeks. And you know what? If you really, really don't like my ass, you can kiss it. 'Cause kissing it makes it go away, I promise."
She added: "It doesn't really matter what goes down on the internet, nothing really breaks my joy. I'm a really solid grounded person and I know that I'm really shocking because you've never seen in a long time a body like mine doing whatever it wants to do and dressing the way that it dresses and moving the way that it moves.
"But I don't want to censor myself because I'm suddenly famous, or I don't want to censor myself because everyone's looking at me now. I'm not going to quiet myself, I'm not going to shrink myself because somebody thinks that I'm not sexy to them. Bitch…"